[ she doesn't take his hand, and refuses to look at him, and lotor only allows his hand to hang in the air for half a moment before he withdraws it, allowing it to hang back by his side. what he should do is simply suggest they talk about it later -- be smart, and practical.
but his emotion drives his response -- quiet, a little strained: ]
And what was I to say, Allura?
[ his tone isn't defensive, but it also forces the proper question. ]
I had no allies, in this fight. The Paladins of Voltron wanted to kill me because of who, and what, I am. My father issued an intergalactic bounty on my head the moment I fled his clutches, and I had nothing. What was I to do, in order to gain your trust? Inform you that I had secluded a portion of the Altean people away, in hiding, in order to preserve our last hope at saving the entirety of the universe? Give you more of a reason to execute me on the spot, rather than live to fight another day?
[ he should stop, but instead, lotor persists. ]
Every single word I have told you, about myself, about my goals, about peace, and about you, have not been a lie. I want, more than anything, to have the universe come to peace, as it should have been, before my father corrupted it. I -- [ he pauses, but only for half a moment, before continuing: ] I could not afford to tell you the reality, because doing so would have meant it would have been for nothing. Don't you understand that?
no subject
but his emotion drives his response -- quiet, a little strained: ]
And what was I to say, Allura?
[ his tone isn't defensive, but it also forces the proper question. ]
I had no allies, in this fight. The Paladins of Voltron wanted to kill me because of who, and what, I am. My father issued an intergalactic bounty on my head the moment I fled his clutches, and I had nothing. What was I to do, in order to gain your trust? Inform you that I had secluded a portion of the Altean people away, in hiding, in order to preserve our last hope at saving the entirety of the universe? Give you more of a reason to execute me on the spot, rather than live to fight another day?
[ he should stop, but instead, lotor persists. ]
Every single word I have told you, about myself, about my goals, about peace, and about you, have not been a lie. I want, more than anything, to have the universe come to peace, as it should have been, before my father corrupted it. I -- [ he pauses, but only for half a moment, before continuing: ] I could not afford to tell you the reality, because doing so would have meant it would have been for nothing. Don't you understand that?